Cat in a Cauldron

Part 2 - Chapter 13 - Lost Cat

Presently...

The tunnel stretched out ahead of Cat, and she was beginning to think it had stretched of its own accord. Finally, the false wall reared up in front of her, and she ran straight through without a pause.

Behind her, she could hear the pounding of the feet that chased her. The flames had failed their job, and Cat knew why.

Todd had tried to tell her that Adam was warded, protected against magical attacks. A Hunter using magic to shield himself from magic as he tried to Hunt it down - that was unheard of. The base of Hunter motivation and morals was that all blood that wasn't red was unnatural and needed to be spilled, drained away. They would never use anything that didn't have Redblood roots.

Even Hunters had standards and doctrines, and the fact that Adam wasn't afraid to leave them behind terrified Cat.

What in the hell did she get herself into?

One question that nagged above the others was what Alexander had to do with it. Todd had mentioned his name with the warning, and Cat could only assume he meant that Alexander was the one who warded him. But Cat's Wytchfire shoud've burned through any Silverblood shields; it was different than that of other Silverbloods. That meant the wards Adam used used, the ones Alexander created, weren't Silverblood.

The tunnel ended finally before her, a ladder hanging down. Cat started to climb.

Halfway up, she paused, though she knew she shouldn't have.

There was no sound.

the footsteps had fallen silent and Cat hadn't noticed.

Fear gripped her heart stronger than ever. An enemy she couldn't hear was an enemy she couldn't anticipate. She swallowed and forced herself to finish the ascent.

A hand grabbed her ankle.

Cat screamed and kicked, the fear breaking loose. The trapdoor was just above - if she could only reach it! But the grip was iron strong and wouldn't let go.

And then a voice filled the tunnel, snaked into Cat's ears, and she shuddered at it, at the heated tenor so familiar, at the flash of desire it still inspired, at the danger it promised.

"Run away, little witch," Adam taunted silkily. "I enjoy the chase. And at the end of the Hunt, your beautiful blood will run as a river of silver, and I will use it to paint a picture of the truth so easily ignored and forgotten. Your blood will run so that mine can be avenged."

He's insane, Cat thought frantically.

And Adam released her ankle so that Cat flew up the ladder to the trapdoor.

She stumbled and cried out as strong arms caught her, pulled her out of the tunnel. Through hot tears that filled her eyes, Cat could see the most beautiful face on the planet, the one that promised safety, if she'd only trust him.

"I heard you scream," Todd said, holding her at arm's length and looking her over.

Before she answered, Cat turned and release the words that leapt to her tongue. There was a rumble and the earth around them shook. And then the trapdoor caved inward with the rest of the tunnel. She could only hope it had caught Adam, but she couldn't believe it. She glanced at Todd, who was still observing her.

"Did he hurt you?" Todd asked quietly.

"He's trying to kill me, Todd," Cat said flatly, her jaw clenched in a mixture of fear, anger, and pain.

Todd flinched as if she'd hit him and let his arms fall to his sides as his eyes darkened.

"I know. I apologize. I am not normally this flustered."